Pinki Pramanik gets bail; gender report in court

Police escort Pinki Pramanik to the Barasat District court in Kolkata. AFP photo

After spending 25 days in prison, gold medal winning athlete Pinki Pramanik was finally granted bail on Tuesday. However, she could not walk free as the bail papers could not be processed at Dumdum Central jail where she is lodged.

The gender determination test report of the athlete was also produced in the court by the SSKM Hospital authorities on the same day.

Pramanik was arrested on June 14 on charges of raping her live-in partner, who accused her of being a man.

The athlete’s incarceration threw the country in turmoil over debates over gender discrimination and ethics of treating those who did not conform to traditional definitive gender boundaries.

The Barasat chief judicial magistrate granted bail to Pramanik noting that she had lived with the woman who had filed a rape charge against her for more than three years.

The court also said that it was necessary for Pramanik to be kept in prison on account of the various medical tests that she had to undergo. But now that the final report has come in, it is no longer required to keep her in prison.

“We are forwarding the medical report of Pramanik to the court today. I cannot divulge anything about the report since it is a sub-judice matter,” said Biswanath Kahali, chairman of the medical board appointed to investigate Pramanik’s gender on Tuesday.

Pramanik was lodged in Dumdum correctional home since June 15, after her bail plea was turned down by the same court.

While granting bail to Pramanik the court also noted her achievements and the glory that she had brought to the country.

A PIL was moved in Calcutta high court on July 6 alleging inhuman torture on the athlete, after which the court directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit within two weeks on the progress of the probe.

The West Bengal Human Rights Commission had also stepped in and directed the home, health and police departments to inquire into the allegations of 'torture' on the athlete in police and jail custody.

Previously, Pramanik had complained of harassment when she was produced at SSKM hospital on July 2.